About the independent investigation into the use of online content by or on behalf of the council's special educational needs and disabled children's services, the external Investigating Officer, the purpose of the investigation, how to submit evidence and the independent investigation report.
On 28 August 2025 the Children and Young People's Policy Committee approved the commission of an independent investigation into the accessing or reviewing of online content by or on behalf of Bristol City Council SEN and disabled children's services during the period September 2021 to August 2022.
Appointment of external Investigating Officer
Following this decision, the Executive Director of Children and Education has appointed an external Investigating Officer, Aileen McColgan KC. Aileen is a barrister in independent practice at 11 KBW and will lead the investigation. She has no prior involvement in the matter and will report directly to the Executive Director of Children and Education.
Aileen has extensive experience in conducting investigations, most of them highly confidential, for public and private bodies including:
- local authorities
- universities and colleges
- trade unions
- commercial organisations
She has expertise in employment and education, data protection and privacy law and is co-author of a leading book on the law relating to SEN. She is recognised as a leading practitioner in investigations, education, employment, civil liberties and public law by the directories.
The purpose of the investigation
- Establish what activity took place and whether it was appropriate and authorised.
- Understand any impact on parents, families, services, or forums.
- Provide recommendations to ensure safe, lawful, and transparent practices going forward.
Submit evidence to the investigation
If you want to contact the Investigating Officer or submit evidence to inform her work on the investigation:
- email amc@11kbw.com
- call 020 7632 8500
These contact details go directly to the independent investigator and will not go through the council in any way.
You can submit evidence from Thursday 6 November until Friday 19 December. The investigator may accept or seek additional witness evidence after that time, depending on the scale of engagement and evidence received so far. We expect the investigation to be completed by spring 2026.
Ensuring an independent and fair process
We're committed to ensuring this process is independent and fair.
The investigator will:
- take all reasonable and practical steps to engage on a confidential basis with relevant witnesses
- carry out the investigation in line with the council's policies and procedures including the Code of Conduct on Investigations, Employee Code of Conduct and relevant Information Governance Procedures
pdf Terms of reference for independent investigation into social media use(149 KB) .
Independent investigation report
The report of the independent investigation into the council’s use of social media in relation to Special Educational Needs (SEN) and disabled children’s services has been published ahead of being reviewed at the Children and Young People policy committee in July.
The independent reviewer found no evidence of any widespread or routine monitoring of individuals’ social media accounts by council staff.
The review, carried out by independent KC Aileen McColgan over 7 months, also found no evidence of staff wrongdoing or any political direction in the information gathering that did take place.
The investigation found that limited information about 2 members of the Bristol Parent Carer Forum was gathered from publicly available sources during 2 short time periods in autumn 2021 and spring 2022, but confirmed this did not amount to surveillance and did not breach privacy rights.
The report makes a small number of recommendations to improve how the council applies surveillance legislation, manages records and supports staff, helping to strengthen practice going forward.
Officers will consider the recommendations and decisions required will be referred to the relevant committee.